About Park Street Orienteering

Events are held all over Melbourne, all year round. Come to as many events as you wish and “pay as you go” – no pre-registration required, and no need to sign up to a whole series or night. Entry fee for adults $5 per event, Juniors (under 21) $3 per event. You can choose whether to run or walk, individually or in a group.

Find out more about where and when events are held

What to bring

At the event: Each participant receives a map with 20-25 pre-marked control points, and a card which is used to record the controls located. Controls are positioned on features such as light poles, fences, or trees. Everyone starts at the same time. You must return to the Finish within a set time, or after locating a designated number of controls. It’s up to you to decide which controls to go to.

When you arrive: Look for ORIENTEERING parking signs, or park as directed. Then head to the Registration table and ask for assistance. We’ll help you choose a course, give you a preview of the map, and some simple instructions. Fill in a control card and pay your entry fee. Just before the start, the course setter will give everyone a briefing and hand out maps. When the “Go” signal is given, turn over your map and begin your course.

Courses: Participants carry a control card which they ‘punch’ at each control located, and hand in at the Finish. All participants MUST report to the Finish, for safety reasons. Courses close 75 minutes after the advertised start time. Competitors on a Runners course may run and/or walk. But if you’re on a Power Walkers course, you MUST walk at all times.

The two formats used are called SCATTER and SCORE.

SCATTER:

Used for Summer Running courses
Locate a designated number of controls (eg 10 of 20) in any order. First to finish with the correct number of controls wins
Course lengths range from 3 kms to 10 kms
Choose any course you wish from the four or five options available

SCORE:

Used for Power Walking courses in Summer, and for all courses in Winter
Controls have values ranging from 2 to 5 points. Collect as many points as you can before a set finish time
Finish times vary from 45-60 minutes, depending on the course selected
Penalty points are deducted for being late, so you need to wear a watch

Results: published within 1-2 days. The winner on each course receives 100 points, second place receives 99 points, etc. Points are tallied each week to determine the overall placegetters at the end of each series.

Maps: show you where the controls are, where you can and can’t go, and details about the event. They are black and white, A4 sized, and at a scale of 1:10,000. They are similar to, but more accurate than a Melway or Google map, and they show contours. You do not need a compass.

Groups: Park Street orienteering is a great activity for schools, scouts, sporting teams or social clubs. We also welcome disability groups with carers. If you would like to bring a group, please contact us a week before the event so that we can ensure sufficient map numbers.